The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1887-01-31
THREE YEARS IN THE RANKS
To the Edlkor ofMe Hetnld..

rs one who served three years in the
Union Army during the great civil war,
most OF which time was spent "in the
ranks" must demur to one leading
proposition Of Mr.. Booth: a PROPOSE
ton which formed, | might say, the
res 9esfae of his argument on Friday
night last
Having promised that his lecture
would be neither critical nor historic. !,
yet il bristled with criticisms of all m,
in the service who wore shoulder-stral
Except his own ColoneD, and in Il
connection perverted history MOI
grossly than the English writer who
charged that the British in the Crimea
were an "army Of lions led by don.
keys" in that he says, in effect, that the
Unionists we're an army Of brave pr
Yates led in great measure by cowardy
and skulking officers.
With the single exception of Colonel
Miles, who paid the penalty Of his
treachery at Harper's Ferry with his
life, no authentic record exists, during
the war, OF an officer in any responsible
command having acted other thar a
man and soldier. The theory Of tie
lecturer, on an analysis, must conden
itself by all laws of reason and loe
How is it possible that where, to be.
with, the volunteer officers of the i
we're in the great majority OF instanS
elected by the men Of their respect
companies from among themselves
where the "Field and STAFF were
pointed for the most part on aocoua
Of their previous military experience, u
their education, standing and inhuer
in their respective communties--wh
the places Of the original appoint
las these dropped out from dea
wounds or promotion) were filed
selection Of the best and brayest II
from the ranks; ] say, how is it pc
bic that in the fourth, third, or ey
the second year Of the war, such a Coz
, dition could exist as Mr.. Booth wouC
have us believe when he repeats Ga,
, substance Of the played out army song
"The men Who do The fighting
Are the prvaes Of the army"
: Which was always looked upon by IN,
y boys as joker No, sir The men VIII,
wore swords and spurs, and eagles
/, and stars, during the second, third anC
5 fourth years Of the war, we're men who
a like Mr.. Booths brother, had been pro
noted "from the ranks" or from sui
allern positions for bravery and goo'
conduct There has never within III
) range OF history existed an army OF an
magnitude where the ofiiceY so uniyei
sally partook OF the tolls and DANCE
D and suferings Of the common soldiers
as did those Of the army which 'fougt
5 for the Union" in IS6I-5. Nor wa
!, there ever an army wherein the officer
more universally stood by their posi-
and died in their tracks with their face
n to the enemy, without murmur or con
r plaint-like the wolf with his tongu
L between his teeth, uttering no whine
asking no quarter
Logan rose "lrom the ranks Me-
- pherson rose from a subaltern's po-
= ton. Terry, a volunteer private, ]
!, came a Major General in the RegKiI
:, Army-the only example during Il
y !" war OF this distinguished honor be
s earned. The immortal hero of App
- mattox himself aspired no higher at ii
=. beginning of the war than the con
mand of a regiment OF volunteer
~ Army corps and division commando
" whose positions placed numerous sc.
80 ants and every luxury at their con
;, mand, conducted compaigns with b'
6 one private servant, carrying all the
80 baggage and effects on single pa'
. horse. During the forced march
- the Army OF the Tennessee from Vick
> burg to reinforce Grant at Chattanoog
~ It's commander, Sherman, had not eve
-. one servant, but carried his outfit, co
~ sisting of a privates great coat
~ blanket, canleen and hayersack, on
~ own saddle eating his pork and he
" tack with the common soldiers; a.
the worldwide story of one of .
"bummers" disputing his identity,
consequently his authority during
=, omarch to the sea" by reason Of
his appearing in the dress of a comm
ca soldier, but illustrates the grand go
fellowship which existed at all times ,
tween men and officers-which q
at not, however, prevent the slrictesi &
sternest obedience when the supre
moment of action arrived. 1t IS
there we're political generals v
the proved failures. Butler, the most Pre-
inent of this class, though an admit
military governor las witness
'p~. Orleans) was a wretched military &C
'nsy mander, as proved by his fallu
" to promptly attack PeleTsns
mac on Grants order, after Cold Harb
eral and before Lee had filled the fortlhc
rice lions with men. His failure at re
Fisher was blunder which should
Oh ~